Faculty News
Armando Corripio awaits the publication
of the textbook, Tuning of Industrial Control Systems, put to press at Research
Triangle Park Publications. He also submitted his article, "Dynamic Neural
Networks Partial Least Squares (DNNPLS) Identification of Multivariable
Processes," to Computers and Chemical Engineering. Dr. Corripio continues
his work with Dr. Douglas Harrison on their project, "Sorbent Energy Transfer
System (SETS) for CO2 Control."
The paper, "High-Pressure Molding and Carbonation of Cementitious Materials"
by Kerry Dooley, Carl Knopf and co-workers was published in Industrial and
Engineering Chemistry Research (v.38, 2641, 1999). It describes a new method
to rapidly carbonate various cements during molding, greatly reducing surface
pH while accelerating set. They have a patent application on the process
pending, and recently completed a project for DOE to employ such materials
as artificial reefs, and for reef repair. Dr. Dooley presented this paper
and another on catalysis of ketonization by rare-earth oxides at the Fall
AIChE meeting in Dallas.
Douglas Harrison continues his work on
combining steam-methane reforming, water-gas shift and CO2 removal in a
single-step process for H2 production, in conjunction with the Department
of Energy. Dr. Harrison has also submitted a proposal to look at high efficiency
desulfurization of synthetic gases.
Michael Henson was named an Associate
Editor for the Journal of Process Control, and served on a National Science
Foundation review panel for the Foundation's Small Business Initiative Program
on Process Control. He has also been named to the International Program Committee
of three process control conferences, published three journal papers, and
given 7 seminar presentations. Dr. Henson has continued ongoing research
projects funded by the NSF, ExxonMobil Chemical, Praxair, and DuPont, while
serving the Chemical Engineering department as an undergraduate advisor,
graduate recruiting coordinator, and seminar series coordinator.
Martin Hjorstø presented several
papers during the last semester, including "A model predictive control strategy
for stabilization of oscillating yeast cultures" at the International Symposium
on Advanced Control of Chemical Processes in Pisa, Italy. He also co-presented
the following papers with Michael Henson: "Deciphering the Mechanisms of
Autonomous Microbial Oscillations" at the Engineering Foundation Conference
on Population Balance Modeling and Applications in Hawaii; "Use of oscillating
cultures for identification of fermentation models" at the annual ACS meeting
in San Francisco; and "Bifurcation Analysis and Control of Yeast Cultures
in Continuous Bioreactors" at the American Control Conference in Chicago.
Kalliat Valsaraj has recently obtained
a grant from EPA to study the photodegradation and adsolubilization of organic
compounds from dilute wastewater streams. A new facility for solvent sublation
based on his research work is presently being constructed at Borden Chemicals
and Plastics in Geismar, La and will come on-line later this year. Dr. Valsaraj
has had the second edition of his textbook Elements of Environmental Engineering
published by CRC Press in March this year. He is presently hosting, in his
laboratory, Mr. Yuan Qingzhong , a visiting scholar from the department of
chemical engineering, Shangdong Institute of Light Industry, People's Republic
of China.
David Wetzel has begun collaboration
on an undergraduate research project, "Transport of cutting in horizontal
well drilling," for later publication.
Faculty Awards
Drs. Armando Corripio and Douglas P. Harrison received funding from TDA Research
for their project, "A novel hydrogen/oxygen generation system."
Dr. Kerry Dooley was awarded $65,000 from EagleView Technologies and MGK
Co. to study catalytic ketonization and partial oxidation processes.
Dr. Douglas P. Harrison received the Masuda Research Fellowship award.
Drs. Geoffrey L. Price and Kerry M. Dooley were awarded $85,000 by ExxonMobil
Chemical to prepare and study new catalysts for aromatic carbonylation.
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